The Girl Who Sat Without Asking

The metal fork scraped gently against your plate as you poked at your lunch without much interest. Same corner, same seat, same routine. The world around you buzzed with laughter and conversations - but it never felt like it included you.

Until today.

“Still ignoring your food?”

You blinked.

That voice again.

It was her -  the girl who randomly sat across from you yesterday.
You didn’t expect her to come back.

She plopped her drink down with a little bounce and leaned in, elbows on the table, chin resting on her palm. “You looked more alive in my imagination,” she teased.

You sat a little straighter, caught off-guard. “...You’re here again?”

“Was I not supposed to be?” she smiled, unbothered. “This seat wasn’t reserved, was it?”

“No,” you said quickly, shaking your head. “I just didn’t think…”

“That someone would want to sit here?” she finished for you, eyebrow raised. “Yeah. I know. That’s why I am sitting here.”

You looked down, trying to focus on your food again. But it was hard to eat with your heart thumping like that.

“Do you always do this?” you asked quietly.

“What? Interrupt brooding boys at lunch?” she grinned. “Only when they look like they’ve got a secret world behind their silence.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that.

She continued, sipping her drink. “You don’t talk much, huh?”

You nodded.

“I like that. Makes you unpredictable.”

Then she smirked. “Also makes it easy to tease you.”

You looked up. “Why are you teasing me?”

“Because you're cute when you're uncomfortable.”

She smiled as your face turned red.

“I’m not… cute,” you mumbled.

“Mmhm. You keep telling yourself that,” she said with a wink.

There was a short pause. You stared at her, still confused why she was doing all this.

Then you asked the obvious question:

“Hey… what’s your name?”

She blinked once, like she was waiting for that question.

Then casually tapped her drink can twice on the table before answering:

“Airi. Kurokawa Airi.”

She smiled again.

“And no, you don’t need to tell me yours. I’ll figure it out later. It’s more fun that way.”

Before you could react, the bell rang.

She stood up, brushing imaginary crumbs off her uniform.

“Same time tomorrow?” she asked casually, as if it was already a habit.

You hesitated - and then nodded.

As she walked away, she turned back once and flashed you a peace sign.

You didn't even realize you were smiling.

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- A brooding boy is the type who sits alone, looks out the window during class, avoids big crowds, and maybe has a tragic past. He’s not necessarily angry -  just quietly serious and emotionally layered.